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The Children of Lir
Aife hates the children of her husband Lir, Lord of the Sea. She cannot kill them, but she can get rid of them. Casting a spell, she unleashes a terrible enchantment - they are to be swans for 900 years, living in the most inhospitable lakes in Ireland.
96 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1992
1 person is currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Michael Scott
187 books6,839 followersIrish-born Michael Scott began writing over thirty years ago, and is one of Ireland's most successful and prolific authors, with over one hundred titles to his credit, spanning a
variety of genres, including Fantasy, Science Fiction and Folklore.
He writes for both adults and young adults and is published in thirty-seven countries, in over twenty languages.
Praised for his “unparalleled contribution to children’s literature,” by the Guide to Children’s
Books, Michael Scott was the Writer in Residence during Dublin’s tenure as European City of Culture in 1991, and was featured in the 2006 edition of Who’s Who in Ireland as one of the 1000
most “significant Irish.”
variety of genres, including Fantasy, Science Fiction and Folklore.
He writes for both adults and young adults and is published in thirty-seven countries, in over twenty languages.
Praised for his “unparalleled contribution to children’s literature,” by the Guide to Children’s
Books, Michael Scott was the Writer in Residence during Dublin’s tenure as European City of Culture in 1991, and was featured in the 2006 edition of Who’s Who in Ireland as one of the 1000
most “significant Irish.”
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 31, 2007
My favorite Irish legend.
October 13, 2020
I read the Joseph Jacobs translation for my Irish Literature course in uni, and I loved it. There is something so sweet and extraordinary about Irish and Scottish myths and legends.
January 11, 2008
One of my all time favorite Irish legends - the Children of Lir. It's a sad and haunting story with gorgeous illustrations (in the hardcover version). A lovely read.
June 10, 2008
Favorite Irish Folk Story when I was little :-)
March 18, 2020
Pretty cute. It's probably a story I wouldn't read to kids in the preschool (because of the references to God and heaven at the end), but it is a very cute story. I'm surprised I've never read it before.
September 9, 2024
Michael Scott knows how to use his imagery and tell a nice celtic tale! I liked Fionnuala and the Tuatha De Danann people
If you liked this book, then I suggest:
The Six Crimson Cranes series
The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series
Vampyre
If you liked this book, then I suggest:
The Six Crimson Cranes series
The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series
Vampyre
June 30, 2017
Simple and short story. Love the illustrations.
August 30, 2020
It’s more fun to read when you’re not reading it to a 5 year old.
February 7, 2017
This Irish Stories about King Lir is great insight of human behaviour.
I Have read the comic version of that story
The Most heart touching Irish Mythology
This Irish legend of Ireland is most famous and readable mythical story. I was just roaming for new book in my tablet than I come through this title. Title of book is also very impressive and attract anyone in single glimpse.
“Children of Lir” is story of King Lir who lived happily with his four children in his kingdom. They were happy and seems as perfect for each other. But with a twist, king Lir wife died and whole family started to break down. For handling such crises, King called his wife sister who has power of spell. This women initially seems nice to children but has jealousy or greed for the position of Queen. One fine day, one of king minister advice him to merry with Lir’s wife sister. He found that offer is quite nice and suitable because its seems that this women love those children as her own.
After being Queen, she spell those four children as swan for 900 Years out of jealousy. When king know about the hatred she had hidden, he convert that women into black crow and cried for fate for his children. Another 900 yrs, children of King Lir, lived in many places and finally get rescued when one disciple of St. Patrick ring a communion bell for them.
Being fan of folk story, I found that this story is very heart touching and emotional. A father who has done everything right, how fate snatch everything from him in one night. how a women who received love of a king and his four children turned into a black heart out of jealousy. I loved the way, this book describe human emotion. We as a human, have similar life like King Lir. We have always a perfect family, there is always a chance of mishappening or even worst. There is always a chance if someone can have profit out of our emotions. But still as a human, we Trust, We Love and We betrayed. I found this story very closed to real human nature. Nature of jealous with another wealth, nature of trust to someone who show sympathy to us and our family. Nature of anger, when we find that we got betrayed baldy by someone we loved enormously.
This remind me another Indian tale of sacrifice and I am sure everyone has listened about that:- The Ramayana- The Story of Lord Rama.
This is a nice story and worth readable.
I Have read the comic version of that story
The Most heart touching Irish Mythology
This Irish legend of Ireland is most famous and readable mythical story. I was just roaming for new book in my tablet than I come through this title. Title of book is also very impressive and attract anyone in single glimpse.
“Children of Lir” is story of King Lir who lived happily with his four children in his kingdom. They were happy and seems as perfect for each other. But with a twist, king Lir wife died and whole family started to break down. For handling such crises, King called his wife sister who has power of spell. This women initially seems nice to children but has jealousy or greed for the position of Queen. One fine day, one of king minister advice him to merry with Lir’s wife sister. He found that offer is quite nice and suitable because its seems that this women love those children as her own.
After being Queen, she spell those four children as swan for 900 Years out of jealousy. When king know about the hatred she had hidden, he convert that women into black crow and cried for fate for his children. Another 900 yrs, children of King Lir, lived in many places and finally get rescued when one disciple of St. Patrick ring a communion bell for them.
Being fan of folk story, I found that this story is very heart touching and emotional. A father who has done everything right, how fate snatch everything from him in one night. how a women who received love of a king and his four children turned into a black heart out of jealousy. I loved the way, this book describe human emotion. We as a human, have similar life like King Lir. We have always a perfect family, there is always a chance of mishappening or even worst. There is always a chance if someone can have profit out of our emotions. But still as a human, we Trust, We Love and We betrayed. I found this story very closed to real human nature. Nature of jealous with another wealth, nature of trust to someone who show sympathy to us and our family. Nature of anger, when we find that we got betrayed baldy by someone we loved enormously.
This remind me another Indian tale of sacrifice and I am sure everyone has listened about that:- The Ramayana- The Story of Lord Rama.
This story seems to be similarly emotional to Ramayana. A king who get exile of 14 years in his youth just to prove that he is obedient child. To shake of his father promise, he stay in woods, have pain to show that “How a Child should be Obedient to his parents”. He killed demons in woods to prove that ” a person with pure heart must be rescued people in Need”. He allied with Monkey King and beer in woods and loved them equally to all his companion, even more to show that “In eye of a Lord, no human, animal and even minute creature (living and Non living) is equal to him”. He fought for righteousness of his wife. he tasted righteousness of his wife and last he scarified his own wife for the people whom he rule. I found that King Lir has faced the same fate, trauma of
losing his wife, than loosing his children whom he love so much and last loosing his life without seeing them as a Normal being.
This is a nice story and worth readable.
February 13, 2012
I love the legend. Now I'm looking forward to reading other versions. I may end up changing my rating.
April 9, 2019
This one was too much rinsed with Christianity for me to actually consider it a myth. Beautiful nonetheless.
Read
May 1, 2017Title: The Children of Lir
Author: Sheila MacGill-Callahan
Illustrator: Gennedy Sparin
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): swans, mountains, legend
Opening line/sentence:
Long, long ago in Ireland lived a happy king called Lir.
Brief Book Summary: After being turned into swans by the stepmother of Lir, the four children are not able to be turned back until the two mountains are connected. The Man of the North and the Woman of the South are representing the conflicting tribes that must be connected in order to turn back the children.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1993)
In a tale "loosely based on an Irish myth," Lir's four children are turned into swans by jealous stepmother Aiofe, who grants them just one day a year in their true form--but "on that day your feet may not touch the earth or you will surely die." They find refuge on a whale's back; still, she pursues them relentlessly until the spell is broken by friendly birds who form an arch to join two mountains--the "Man from the North" and the "Woman from the South." In the original, these are a man and woman, from warring tribes, who marry; 900 years have elapsed; and the aged children join Lit in heaven--this isn't for purists, but it makes a dramatic story in a folkloric style. The Russian-born Spirin uses watercolors to create lush formal paintings in his nco-Renaissance style, with romantic landscapes and ornately clad figures; best are his sinuous, beautifully painted swans and sea mammals. A bit pretentious, but undeniably handsome.
Professional Review/Recommendation #2: Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
The craggy coast of Ireland provides a brooding backdrop for this stirring folktale, reputed to be the genesis of Shakespeare's Lear. After the death of his wife, Aobh, King Lir marries her sister Aiofe, whose beauty ``hid an evil heart.'' Jealous of her husband's love for his four children, Aiofe casts a spell on the youths, turning them into swans ``for three times three hundred years,'' or until the twin mountains bordering the kingdom should come together. In her second book, MacGill-Callahan ( And Still the Turtle Watched ) exhibits an admirable sense of classical fairy-tale style: her prose, studded with poetic imagery and elegant turns of phrase, escalates the story's dramatic impact. Spirin's ( Snow White and Rose Red ) characteristically sumptuous, gilt-flecked paintings accentuate both the material opulence of royalty and the strength and natural beauty of the varied animals who assist the swans and provide the book's joyful conclusion. Lavish double-page spreads are balanced by smaller watercolors set among the text--though the painstaking detail is occasionally difficult to discern in the individual illustrations. A lyrical and compelling narrative, coupled with another triumph of artistry and exquisite design for a consummate craftsman
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of these reviews focus mainly on the summary of the book, but note on the watercolor that is used throughout the book. I agree with the reviewers that the illustrations are what makes the book and adds a beautiful touch to the book. However, I would have mentioned the fact this plot is one that children would be able to follow and would want to follow.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The plot is a complex plot in the way that students need to understand the symbolism and what each character truly means. However, the most amazing part of this book includes the illustrations and how detailed the watercolors are in the book.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
When considering instructional application, students could talk about emotions such as jealousy and why it is okay to feel jealous. However, role play could be used to act out how they should act when they do feel jealous.
Author: Sheila MacGill-Callahan
Illustrator: Gennedy Sparin
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): swans, mountains, legend
Opening line/sentence:
Long, long ago in Ireland lived a happy king called Lir.
Brief Book Summary: After being turned into swans by the stepmother of Lir, the four children are not able to be turned back until the two mountains are connected. The Man of the North and the Woman of the South are representing the conflicting tribes that must be connected in order to turn back the children.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1993)
In a tale "loosely based on an Irish myth," Lir's four children are turned into swans by jealous stepmother Aiofe, who grants them just one day a year in their true form--but "on that day your feet may not touch the earth or you will surely die." They find refuge on a whale's back; still, she pursues them relentlessly until the spell is broken by friendly birds who form an arch to join two mountains--the "Man from the North" and the "Woman from the South." In the original, these are a man and woman, from warring tribes, who marry; 900 years have elapsed; and the aged children join Lit in heaven--this isn't for purists, but it makes a dramatic story in a folkloric style. The Russian-born Spirin uses watercolors to create lush formal paintings in his nco-Renaissance style, with romantic landscapes and ornately clad figures; best are his sinuous, beautifully painted swans and sea mammals. A bit pretentious, but undeniably handsome.
Professional Review/Recommendation #2: Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
The craggy coast of Ireland provides a brooding backdrop for this stirring folktale, reputed to be the genesis of Shakespeare's Lear. After the death of his wife, Aobh, King Lir marries her sister Aiofe, whose beauty ``hid an evil heart.'' Jealous of her husband's love for his four children, Aiofe casts a spell on the youths, turning them into swans ``for three times three hundred years,'' or until the twin mountains bordering the kingdom should come together. In her second book, MacGill-Callahan ( And Still the Turtle Watched ) exhibits an admirable sense of classical fairy-tale style: her prose, studded with poetic imagery and elegant turns of phrase, escalates the story's dramatic impact. Spirin's ( Snow White and Rose Red ) characteristically sumptuous, gilt-flecked paintings accentuate both the material opulence of royalty and the strength and natural beauty of the varied animals who assist the swans and provide the book's joyful conclusion. Lavish double-page spreads are balanced by smaller watercolors set among the text--though the painstaking detail is occasionally difficult to discern in the individual illustrations. A lyrical and compelling narrative, coupled with another triumph of artistry and exquisite design for a consummate craftsman
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of these reviews focus mainly on the summary of the book, but note on the watercolor that is used throughout the book. I agree with the reviewers that the illustrations are what makes the book and adds a beautiful touch to the book. However, I would have mentioned the fact this plot is one that children would be able to follow and would want to follow.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The plot is a complex plot in the way that students need to understand the symbolism and what each character truly means. However, the most amazing part of this book includes the illustrations and how detailed the watercolors are in the book.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
When considering instructional application, students could talk about emotions such as jealousy and why it is okay to feel jealous. However, role play could be used to act out how they should act when they do feel jealous.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews